By the skin of your teeth

Meaning

Barely or narrowly escaping failure.

Usage

Used to dramatize a close call.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Biblical phrase from the book of Job.

Popularized in English through religious texts and later idiomatic speech.